Jack Wilshere injury setback leaves Arsenal in a sweat

Arsenal have been left reeling by the news that star midfielder
Jack Wilshere has suffered an injury set back in training, with the Gunners frantically waiting on the results of a scan to confirm the full extent of the problem.

Setback: Arsenal dealt Wilshere fitness blow

Wilshere is yet to play for Arsenal this season after needing surgery on an ankle problem first picked up whilst in action for England in June, but had been closing in on a come back after stepping up his light training schedule.

However, with Wilshere on the cusp of a return to full training and then action in early February, the 20-year-old broke down yesterday after complaining of pain in his ankle while running, and has since had a scan.

The club have now sent Wilshere to see a specialist in search of a full prognosis, with some suggestions that he might have suffered a second stress fracture, which could rule him out for another six weeks.

That would be the worst case scenario for not only Arsenal, who had been hoping Wilshere’s influence in the second half of the season would help them win the battle for a top four place, but England as well, who are counting on the youngster to spear head their midfield at Euro 2012.

Yet manager Arsene Wenger, speaking in his press conference ahead of Sunday’s clash with Aston Villa in the FA Cup, told the waiting journalists not to make any assumptions before the results of the scan are known.

‘Wilshere had a little setback. We don’t know how bad it is,’ said the Frenchman.

‘I can’t give you any news on Jack because I could be wrong.’

Wenger continued by alluding to the fact that he would not be looking for a replacement in the transfer window, by adding: ‘We are not close to signing anybody.’

The news is certain to add to the growing concerns over Arsenal’s under fire medical team, who were previously slammed by fitness expert Raymond Verheijen, who recently called the clubs management of injuries ‘a mess’.